Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6565

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Stern RS.
Drug promotion
New England Journal of Medicine 1995; 332:1033

Abstract:

When promotional efforts based on a preliminary study of the use of a drug for a new and unlabeled indication produce extraordinary publicity n the medical and general press and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, it seems appropriate to consider whether these actions are in the best interst of patients, the company or both. Society seems to have great difficulty establishing a balance between the free and open exchange of objective information about the best use of drugs and inappropriate promotion that provides a distorted view of a drug’s benefit.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United States/ unlabeled indication/quality of information/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: UNLABELED INDICATIONS